Swivel-headed molded decoy



Oct. 4, 1955 A. H. RISCH SWIVEL-HEADED MOLDED DECOY Filed June 5, 1952 4a. mm'aaa ,4 T TO Mar/s.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,719,376 ifatented Oct. 4, 1955 SWIVEL-BEADED MOLDED DECOY Arthur H.- Risch, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Pulp Reproduction Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,843

3 Claims. (01. 43-3 This invention relates generally to improvements in the art of producing molded pulp articles and the like, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of realistic molded hunters decoys.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved strong and durable swivel-headed decoy formed of light weight fibrous material, the parts of which may be readily molded and assembled in a most economical manner to simulate live game.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved light weight decoy having a hollow molded pulp body provided with a single access opening near one end of the top wall adapted to be closed and effectively sealed in a novel manner by a head carrying member.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide animproved molded pulp decoy having a hollow seamless body and a head pivotally attached thereto so as to provide a unitary assemblage wherein the head may be readily adjusted to different positions relative to the body.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved hollow molded pulp decoy which is devoid of access openings or seams in the bottom and side walls thereof, which is exceedingly light in weight but strong and durable in construction, which isexceptionally buoyant and well balanced without need for a baseplate or extra weights, and in which the upper access opening is effectively permanently sealed by novel means in a simple manner.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved hunters decoy comprising, a hollow body having an access opening in the top wall near one end thereof, means for closing and sealing the top wall opening, an outwardly projecting member pivotally secured to the closure means, and a head secured to the outwardly projecting member for pivotal movement therewith.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal verticalsection through a typical duck type aquatic decoy formed of molded pulp and embodying my presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the decoy, taken along the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but showing the body closure and head mounting member in elevation;

Fig. .3. is a central 'longitudinalverti'cal section through a similar duck type aquatic decoy but illustrating a somewhat modified form of the invention; and

Fig. t is a transverse vertical section through the decoy of Fig. 3, taken 'alon'gth'e line 4--4 thereof and also showing'the closure plugand head carrying member in elevation.

While the invention has been specifically shown and described herein as being particularly advantageously applicable to a typical duck type aquatic decoy formed of molded paper pulp and having the interior of the hollow body and head impregnated with an asphalt composition, it is not desired or intended to thereby unnecessarily restrict or limit the scope or utility of the improvements, since the invention may obviously be advantageously applicable to all types of decoys formed of any suitable moldable material and impregnated with. various adhesive sealing compositions; and it is also contemplated that certain specific descriptive terms utilized herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the typical aquatic duck decoy shown therein as embodying the invention comprises, in general, a hollow body 7 of paper pulp or other suitable fibrous material molded to form a unitary seamless shell of substantially uniform wall thickness throughout, the body 7 being formed with a substantially circular and inwardly tapered access opening 8 in the top wall near one end thereof; means such as a similarly tapered disc-shaped closure member 9 extending through the access opening 8 for closing and sealing the opening, the closure member or disc 9 being firmly secured to the tapered wall of the opening 8 by means of a suitable sealing adhesive; 21 similar outwardly projecting oppositely tapered disclike member 10 pivotally secured to the closure 9 concentrically therewith as by means of a rivet orpivot pin 11 extending through central bores 12, 13 of the members 9, 10 respectively and having opposite end heads 14, 15 coacting with washers 16, 17 respectively seated on the respective members 9, it and a head 18 also formed of paper pulp or the like molded to form a unitary seamless shell of substantially uniform wall thickness, the head 18 being provided with a substantially circular and tapered access opening 19 in the bot tom neck portion adapted to embrace and become firmly adhesively secured to the outwardly projecting member 10 for pivotal movement therewith relative to the body 7 So as to provide for smooth pivotal movement of the head 18 and its carrying member 10 relative to the body 7 and the closure member 9, the body 7 isformed with a substantially flat outer surface 20 surrounding the access opening 8 with the upper surface of the closure member 9 also being substantially flat and lying flush with the surrounding outer wall surface 20, and the head carrying member 10 also has a substantially flat base disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the member 9 with the head being molded so as to have a substantially fiat outer'surface 21 surrounding the neck opening 19 and disposed substantially flush with the base of the member 10. The decoy body is also preferably formed with a local indentation 22 in the bottom wall forming a base recess beneath the access opening 8, and suitable attaching means for anchoring the decoy when in use may be provided, such means being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as consisting ofa U-shaped fastening member 23 having an outer eye and the legs thereof penetrating suitable discs 24, 25 disposed respectively internally and externally of the bottom wall at the recess 22. The internal surface of the body 7 may also be preferably coated or impregnated with a suitable sealing adhesive such as asphalt or tar, and a surplus of this sealing adhesive may be dis posed in a layer 26 on the internal bottom surface so as to aid in balancing the decoy. Also, if desired, the bottom wall of the body 7 may be formed with an elongated base recess 27 which has been found to aid in maintaining the decoy in upright position on the water when in use.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the duck decoy shown therein likewise comprises a hollow molded body 7 of suitable fibrous material forming a unitary seamless shell, the body 7' likewise being formed with a substantially circular and inwardly tapered access opening 8 in the top wall near one end thereof; means consisting of a similar tapered closure member 9 extending through the access opening 8' and closing and sealing such opening, the closure member 9' in this case being elongated and extending all of the way to the bottom wall of the body 7'; an outwardly projecting oppositely tapered disc-like member 10' pivotally secured to the closure 9 concentrically therewith in any suitable manner such as by means of a pivot pin 11 extending through a central bore 13 in the member 10' and secured at one end to the member 9 with the opposite end of the pin 11' having a head 15 coacting with a washer 17' seated on the member 10'; and a head 18 of molded paper pulp or the like forming a unitary seamless shell, the head 18 being provided with a substantially circular and tapered access opening 19' in the neck portion for embracing and firm attachment to the outwardly projecting member 10 to thereby permit pivotal movement of the head with the member 10' relative to the body 7'. In this case, the body 7' is also formed with a substantially flat outer surface 20 surrounding the opening 8' with the closure member or plug 9' having its upper surface substantially flat and flush with the surface 20, and the head is also provided with a substantially flat outer surface 21' surrounding the opening 19' with the flat surface 21 being flush with the flat surface of the member 10' to thereby permit free and smooth movement of the head to any desired position about its pivot. The body 7' is also provided with a local base indentation 22' forming a recess beneath the access opening 8'; and in this case, the member 9 extends to and seats upon the inner surface of the base indentation 22 with fastening means being provided which comprises a fastening element 23' extending through the bottom wall of the body within the recessed portion and secured to the closure member 9', the outer or projecting end of the fastening element 23 being provided with an attachment eye substantially concealed within the base recess 22' and bearing against a disc or washer 25'. The closure member 9' is likewise adhesively secured at its upper end to the tapered wall of the opening 8', but in this case, the closure member 9 is additionally secured in position at its innermost end by the fastening element 23' which penetrates the base at the recess and also provides an external attachment means. Before insertion of the member 9, the inner wall of the body 7 may also be coated or impregnated as hereinabove described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and the member 9' may be inserted within the opening 8 while the asphalt layer 26' is still molten or plastic so as to additionally seal the lower end of the member 9'. Also, the body 7' may be formed with a suitable base recess 27' for aiding in balance of the decoy on the water.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved hunters decoy which is effectively sealed against leakage and wherein the head may be rotated to any desired position about its axis relative to the body, thereby enabling the hunter to impart different effects to the various decoys used in a group and accordingly imparting a more realistic appearance to the group of decoys.

In assembling the decoys, the hollow molded body is first coated or impregnated and in the case of Figs. 1 and 2, the fastening means 23 is applied before internal coating, with the assembled discs 9, 10 thereafter being positioned with the disc 9 extending through the opening 8, and the head 18 thereafter being placed upon and secured to the disc 10. However, with reference to the modified structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the body is first internally coated or impregnated, the elongated member carrying the pivotally mounted member 10 is then inserted through the opening 8' with the fastening element 23' thereafter being applied in an obvious manner and the head 18 then being positioned and secured to the member 10'. Decoys constructed in accordance with the present invention have successfully withstood leakage for extremely long periods of time, and such decoys may be constructed at exceedingly low cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use herein shown and described, since various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

I claim:

1. An aquatic hunters decoy comprising, a hollow molded pulp body having an inwardly tapered access opening extending through the top wall near one end thereof, the outer end of said access opening being of larger cross-sectional area than the inner end, a correspondingly tapered closure member extending through and seated within said access opening, said closure member having a fiat upper surface lying in a single plane and having its tapered surface adhesively and sealingly secured to the tapered surface of said access opening, an oppositely tapered member pivotally secured to said closure member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said outwardly projecting member having its larger end terminating in a fiat base disposed immediately adjacent to the flat upper surface of said closure member and also lying in a single plane, and a hollow molded pulp head having an inwardly tapered neck opening snugly embracing and adhesively and sealingly secured to the tapered surface of said outwardly projecting member for pivotal movement therewith.

2. An aquatic hunters decoy in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tapered closure member for the body access opening extends to the bottom wall of said body and is secured thereto.

3. An aquatic hunters decoy comprising, a hollow molded pulp body having a substantially circular inwardly tapered access opening extending through the top wall near one end thereof, the outer end of said access opening being of larger cross-sectional area than the inner end, a lower frusto-conical closure plug extending through and seated within said access opening, said lower closure plug having a fiat upper surface lying in a single plane and having its tapered surface adhesively and sealingly secured to the tapered surface of said access opening, an upper oppositely tapered frustro-conical plug pivotally secured to said lower closure plug, said upper plug having its larger lower end terminating in a flat base disposed immediatelyv adjacent to the flat upper surface of said lower closure plug and also lying in a single plane, and a hollow molded pulp head having a substantially circular inwardly tapered neck opening snugly embracing and adhesively and sealingly secured to the tapered surface of said upper plug for pivotal movement therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 351,709 Nye Oct. 26, 1886 1,273,538 Reeves July 23, 1918 1,293,056 Dun Lany Feb. 4, 1919 2,185,013 Bonetti Dec. 26, 1939 2,274,246 Riddell Feb. 24, 1942 2,494,631 Risch Jan. 17, 1950 2,495,720 Heymann Jan. 31, 1950 2,522,295 Olsen Sept. 12, 1950 be I 

